Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Motorfestivus, Tastefestivus and Beerfestivus @HondaIndy. It could be that I am still thinking of the holiday season with feats of speed and the festivus pole sitter, but I am looking forward to the 2016 Honda Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place; Friday to Sunday, July 15-17. Now that the Toronto PanAm Games are history, the race returns back to mid-summer and will celebrate 30 years of racing on the streets of Toronto during Ontario's largest annual sporting event.

A new president takes over the Green Savoree Racing Promotions' Honda Indy Toronto. Long time president Charlie Johnstone, now CEO of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, passes the promotional torch to Jeff Atkinson, formerly the vice president of GSRP. The firm owns and operates several of the most exciting race events in North America.

"Jeff is a long-time valued executive at our organization and we have the utmost confidence in him," said Kevin Savoree, owner, president and COO of Green Savoree Racing Promotions. "He has all of the attributes that will make him successful in this leadership role and to lead the Honda Indy Toronto. He's a great teammate who is intelligent, articulate, attentive to others and has an incredible work ethic. We look forward to his future with the Honda Indy Toronto."

Muzik Grid Girls

"Honda Indy Toronto has been a summer staple for generations of Torontonians and festivalgoers from across Ontario and beyond," said Jeff Atkinson, newly-appointed President of Honda Indy Toronto. "We're working hard on growing the festival programming to create an event that is fun, exciting for all ages, and that builds on its legacy and connects with the history of the race."

Off track action includes the Verizon IndyCar and support series paddocks, Honda World and the Honda Jr Red Riders, driver autograph sessions and Victory Circle. On the street course which takes the powerful cars throughout Exhibition Place and out onto Lake Shore Boulevard without the pesky interference of law enforcement radar and their associated ticket books.

IndyCar headlines the weekend, joined by the Mazda Road to Indy races and stockcar racing NASCAR Pinty's Series. Three series provide a ladder system which develops young drivers hoping to make it into IndyCar cockpits - Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda. Hopefully the high flying Stadium Super Trucks will make also another appearance in 2016.

Fan Friday sponsored by Ontario Honda Dealers provides free admission, with donation, in support of Make-A-Wish Canada for the Friday, July 15 opening day. In 2015 over $73,000 was raised by generous racing fans, making the event accessible to potential racing fans and their families who can come check out all the action and excitement.

"Honda Fan Friday will feature a jam-packed schedule of on-track action, and off-track stunt shows, contests, autograph sessions and all kinds of entertainment in full gear from gate open to close across the event site, providing something for everyone, race fan or not!"

Slightly damaged in 2015, Canadian driving sensation James Hinchcliffe will return to battle some of the World's toughest competitors such as Scott Dixon who was the 2015 IndyCar Series Champion.

James Hinchcliffe

"This obviously is such a special weekend for me, I remember coming to this race as a kid and really falling in love with INDYCAR while I stood at the fence watching the cars," said James Hinchcliffe, Verizon IndyCar Series driver of the No. 5 Arrow Electronics car for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. "Now, to be able to come back on the other side of that fence and race in my hometown is awesome. The track, the city, the fans, everything about this weekend makes it the best stop on the calendar. I'm glad we got the old date back because now it really is like Christmas in July again."

Usually a couple of the IndyCar drivers make the journey to Toronto during a break in the famous Indy 500 - usually the day after bump day and before Sunday's weekend race schedule. (so maybe Tuesday, May 24?) and if we are lucky James Hinchcliffe will be here.

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation

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Covering the adventure and excitement of life, sports, entertainment and more in Canada's largest city - with over 41+ million content views, 6.8m flickr views and over 1.7 million YouTube views ... Join me as I explore the streets and venues that are found in our beautiful metropolitan community.